Patna, Dec 5 (IANS) Time to get tipsy with litchi — literally. Bihar has accepted a proposal of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) to produce litchi liquor or wine, the first of its kind in India.
An official at the chief minister’s office said the Shahi litchi variety, largely grown in Bihar’s Muzaffarpur district, will be used to make the liquor or wine.

According to him, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has accepted ICAR director general Mangala Ram’s proposal. “The government will formally make an announcement.”

The official said during a recent meeting with the chief minister, Ram explained the potential use of litchi, abundant in Bihar. “He said Bihar could increase its revenues by manufacturing litchi liquor or wine.”

Impressed by the proposal, the state government has decided to set up plants in Muzaffarpur for this purpose.

Officials at the National Research Centre for Litchi at Muzaffarpur said the making of liquor would be a shot in the arm for litchi farmers.

“They would not be forced to sell litchi at throwaway prices and there will be less chance of damage due to poor processing and packaging facilities,” they said.

About 70 percent of litchis produced in India are grown in Muzaffarpur and neighbouring districts, with the number of farmers engaged in growing the fruit increasing in the last decade.

However, in a report released last year, the World Bank had noted that litchis good enough for export were being grown in only about 10 percent of the 2,000-odd orchards in Muzaffarpur.

Countries that import litchis from India include the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Canada, Russia and Yemen.